Ekta R. Garg (Author of The Truth About Elves)

Ekta rated a book liked it Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An unlikely pair of colleagues set out on a quest to find new information linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As they try to keep one step ahead of a shadowy, all-powerful organization, they will find their own views about the historic ev ...more
Dec 17, 2025 12:09PM · like · see review
Ekta rated a book liked it A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death (S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery, #2) by Maxie Dara (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A young woman who works for Death learns her twin is slated to die and to tries to save him by going on a road trip. Despite their sometimes-contentious relationship, the siblings stumble upon secrets connected to their past and set out to figure out ...more
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Ekta rated a book really liked it The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A research assistant finds her life in upheaval after her academic idol is found dead. When the assistant starts to suspect foul play, everyone around her assumes her grief is throwing her eccentricities into overdrive. The more she examines the situ ...more
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Ekta rated a book really liked it Red as Royal Blood by Elizabeth Hart	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When a maid is unexpectedly named the heir to the throne by a dying king, the rest of the royal family is up in arms. Worse, the king leaves behind a note for the maid saying he was probably murdered, and she may be next. Author Elizabeth Hart debuts ...more
Nov 19, 2025 02:22PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Red as Royal Blood by Elizabeth Hart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Red as Royal Blood by Elizabeth Hart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book liked it Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A young woman moves to New York for a new job and to make her writing dreams come true. What begins as a simple job turns into a major turning point in a movement that will eventually give the country some of its most important writers. Author Victor ...more
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Ekta rated a book really liked it Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A woman challenges all the norms of society and business when she proposes a new type of toy for her company to create. As she and the others on her core team fight skepticism and obstacles along the way, their journey will lead them to change pop cu ...more
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Ekta rated a book really liked it Death at the Door (Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries #2) by Olivia Blacke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A young woman and her ghost roommate find themselves in a position to solve a murder for a second time, this time at the woman’s place of work—which also happened to be the workplace of the ghost when she was alive. Despite their otherworldly communi ...more
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Ekta rated a book really liked it Busted by Dan Gemeinhart (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When a boy and his grandfather are in danger of being evicted, he makes a deal with a shady character in the hopes that it will help him save the only home he’s ever known. Instead what happens is a rollicking day that leaves him wondering whether ge ...more
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Ekta entered a giveaway The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Ekta rated a book it was amazing The Killer Question by Janice Hallett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A man intent on sharing the story of his aunt and uncle’s mysterious disappearance reaches out to Netflix to gauge their interest for a possible documentary. As he shares important documents with the Netflix rep about the case, it becomes clear that ...more
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Dead Ringer
by Chris Hauty (Goodreads Author)

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An unlikely pair of colleagues set out on a quest to find new information linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As they try to keep one step ahead of a shadowy, all-powerful organization, they will find their own views about the historic ev An unlikely pair of colleagues set out on a quest to find new information linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As they try to keep one step ahead of a shadowy, all-powerful organization, they will find their own views about the historic event challenged in unforeseen ways. Author Chris Hauty focuses his talent for writing cinematic novels on this turning point in American history in a novel that is surprisingly sluggish at times in Dead Ringer.

Joseph Mingus used to be a Secret Service agent—used to be. These days he’s just trying to keep it all together, working security at a strip club in D.C., earning a day’s living, and putting the baking skills he learned in prison to good use. It’s a little lonely, but with an on-again, off-again relationship with Olivia, the woman he knows deep down he loves, life is manageable. Then comes word that Olivia has been murdered, and Mingus’s world gets tossed upside down.

He doesn’t understand why anyone would want to hurt her. Olivia worked in the National Archives, so she had access to some important documents, but not anything worth being killed over. Then Mingus meets Juan Verduago, and everything he thought he knew about, well, everything, changes.

Juan is a Jesuit priest, a professor, and a self-proclaimed expert on the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He’s convinced that Olivia saw something she wasn’t supposed to see, which is only confirmed by a posthumous message he receives from Olivia. That message gives Juan just enough information to set him on an adventure to find hidden information that could upend what everyone knows about the death of JFK. What’s more, Olivia pleads with Mingus in the message to stick with Juan and protect him.

In another part of the country, a mysterious organization simply referring to themselves as The Movement are preparing their latest favorite candidate for a presidential bid. Horrified by the godless turn the country has taken, the powerful members of The Movement are determined to put America back on the right track. They know that if certain facts come to light, it will be the end of everything they’ve worked for but it doesn’t matter. Saving the country’s soul is more important, and if that means getting rid of a disgraced Secret Service agent and an insignificant professor, so be it. Except the methods used to do just that may be too unsavory even for the likes of The Movement.

As Mingus and Juan fight to stay alive and keep one step ahead of the assassin on their heels, they’ll form an uneasy alliance with each other. In light of the clues they discover, the challenge of their alliance is nothing compared to what they’re being asked to accept: that they, and the world, really don’t know the truth at all about what happened on November 22, 1963.
Author Chris Hauty is a seasoned veteran in writing in broad gestures with detailed descriptions that immediately come alive in readers’ minds, and this book is no different. Setting up a hunt for clues some have compared to The DaVinci Code, Hauty offers plausible reasoning for the “facts” his characters uncover. Anyone fascinated with JFK’s murder may find new information here to ponder.

The book falters, however, in how long it takes for Mingus and Juan to go from clue to clue. Copious information dumps also make the pace drag, which may lead some readers to feel that this may have worked better as a nonfiction work positing a theory different from the accepted one for the historic event. Hauty’s narration rings with authenticity, emphasizing what must have been months or even years of research, but it also comes across more didactically than the average thriller should. With Juan eager to educate Mingus and, by proxy, readers on every aspect of every clue they encounter, readers’ eagerness for the premise may turn into impatience. The level of violence shown by the assassin after Juan and Mingus is also hard to stomach at times.

Those wanting to explore additional possibilities connected to Kennedy’s death may find this one interesting. Others may want to try a different book instead. ...more

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A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death (S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery, #2)
by Maxie Dara (Goodreads Author)

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A young woman who works for Death learns her twin is slated to die and to tries to save him by going on a road trip. Despite their sometimes-contentious relationship, the siblings stumble upon secrets connected to their past and set out to figure out A young woman who works for Death learns her twin is slated to die and to tries to save him by going on a road trip. Despite their sometimes-contentious relationship, the siblings stumble upon secrets connected to their past and set out to figure out a mystery. Author Maxie Dara brings back her interesting concept of Death’s collectors in a book that flounders in her newest release, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death.

Nora Bird knows a lot about death. She knows many different ways a person’s life can end, which is why she’s so careful not to upend her own daily routine. Given that she gets stacks of files on her desk every week at S.C.Y.T.H.E.—the Secure Collection, Yielding, Transport, and Handling of Essences—telling her just how people died and who has to collect their souls, Nora plans every moment of her life.

Her work with S.C.Y.T.H.E. only makes sense, given that she and her twin brother, Charlie, were orphaned at the age of 6 when their parents got into a car accident and had to go live with their stern grandmother. If she knows what forms death can take, Nora can avoid them. And then a file with Charlie’s name on it lands on her desk, and Nora realizes she can’t just worry about herself. Now she has to worry about her brother too.

Despite being twins, Nora and Charlie haven’t been close in years. Half the time she’s not even sure where he is; they do text on their birthday, but that’s about it. Now that she’s got proof Charlie’s going to die soon, Nora is determined to save him because he’s the only family she has left. She grabs his file and runs from the office to Charlie’s current home, picks him up after convincing him he’s in real danger, and starts driving.

After several close calls—S.C.Y.T.H.E. is nothing if not persistent in getting the job done—the twins decide to escape to Virgo Bay, Nova Scotia, their father’s hometown. They figure there who knew their parents might be willing to hide them. The siblings discover, however, that Virgo Bay isn’t safe either.

Someone in the small coastal town is on a mission to make sure Charlie doesn’t survive. Nora knows this isn’t someone from work; it’s someone with a personal mission to kill Charlie. But why? And why does everyone behave like they’re hiding something?

Author Maxie Dara’s new book is a companion to her first novel, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer. Less a sequel and more a continuation of exploring the same workplace, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death offers a modern-day look at the title character, placing it within the bounds of corporate America with paper pushers and drone workers doing seemingly mundane tasks. The setup for S.C.Y.T.H.E. in this second book is rife with possibility for worldbuilding, yet Dara doesn’t delve nearly enough into Nora’s workplace. Readers stay there for a mere handful of pages before Nora hits the road, and once she and Charlie are on the run anyone new to this series will only get glimpses of the organization.

While the narration tries to convince readers that Virgo Bay is a mysterious place with many secrets, the main mystery of the novel is why Nora and Charlie keep returning to a secondary character for answers to all their questions. For the most part, the siblings spend their time working out their emotional distance and questioning why they didn’t know about the people in Virgo Bay connected to their father. Attempts on Charlie’s life aren’t enough to spur either twin to take true decisive, plot-furthering action. Instead they wring their hands, hide in a basement bedroom, read some old files, and keep going back to that same secondary character for more answers.

Dara’s inclusion of a chatty parrot offers a mild distraction from the fact that the plot stutters once the action moves to Virgo Bay, but after a while even people who have no familiarity or connection to animals will start to question the events connected to the parrot. The main saving grace in this book is Dara’s wry, often deadpan wit that offers unusual ways to look at things while at the same time entertaining readers. Fans of the first book may want to give this one a try; new readers can take their chances. ...more

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The Botanist's Assistant
by Peggy Townsend (Goodreads Author)

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A research assistant finds her life in upheaval after her academic idol is found dead. When the assistant starts to suspect foul play, everyone around her assumes her grief is throwing her eccentricities into overdrive. The more she examines the situ A research assistant finds her life in upheaval after her academic idol is found dead. When the assistant starts to suspect foul play, everyone around her assumes her grief is throwing her eccentricities into overdrive. The more she examines the situation with a cool, collected approach, however, the more convinced she becomes that her boss was murdered. Author Peggy Townsend offers readers a protagonist reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant in her excellent new book The Botanist’s Assistant.

Margaret Finch is well into her fifties and living her dream. She’s the head research assistant to Dr. Jonathan Deaver in the botany lab at Roosevelt University, and she couldn’t be happier. Margaret thinks Dr. Deaver is a literal genius and is so grateful every day that she gets to work in a lab where a cure for cancer is within reach. Dr. Deaver’s groundbreaking research means they’re close to making the cure a reality, which only makes Margaret admire him even more.

Everything comes to a screeching halt when Dr. Deaver is found dead in his office, just when his research was about to jump to the next big step. Margaret is beyond heartbroken; she’s suspicious. The condition of Dr. Deaver’s office tells her that the famous scientist’s final moments were spent in struggle. Even though Margaret shares her suspicions with the campus police officer assigned to the death and also with university officials, no one is ready to listen.

That bothers Margaret but not as much as it might some people. Single and living alone in a 19th-century cabin up on a mountain, Margaret actually prefers solitude. Spending time with people is highly overrated, especially when they ignore her because she’s six feet tall and doesn’t behave like everyone else. If no one believes Dr. Deaver was murdered, Margaret will simply have to prove it herself.

Despite her dedication to her task, Margaret finds herself struggling to get information. Joe Torres, the botany lab’s custodian, offers to lend a helping hand. Margaret is suspicious of him too at first, but Joe quickly earns Margaret’s trust and they become partners in solving a crime. Because the more Margaret starts to dig, the more convinced she is that this is most definitely a crime.

Pretty soon someone starts threatening Margaret, which Joe says is a sign that she’s on the right track. In her investigation, Margaret discovers some unsavory information about Dr. Deaver and has to tolerate the scientist’s replacement, Dr. Blackstone. Dr. Blackstone makes it loud and clear that he believes Dr. Deaver stole the ideas for his research, and he doesn’t hesitate to take over the lab. But Margaret has the experience of working there that Dr. Blackstone doesn’t, and she has her pure loyalty to Dr. Deaver and science. No matter what happens to her, she’s not going to let either of them down.

Author Peggy Townsend takes readers into the world of academic politics with great success in this book. She pulls the curtain back on the rivalries and downright nastiness that can pervade in the sector of higher education, making Dr. Blackstone’s malignant indignation feel real and almost relatable. The classic phrase “publish or perish” is alive and well in Townsend’s Roosevelt University.

Similar to Eleanor Oliphant, Molly the Maid, and other iconic characters who don’t quite fit into society, protagonist Margaret Finch observes the world with a keen eye and relies on her instincts to guide her. Townsend gives Margaret her own personality in the form of her love of plants and the plant world. Readers who love gardening will definitely learn a thing or two from this one as Margaret shares key information about all things botanical.

The book tends to be a little too quiet at times in terms of the plot’s pacing. Typically murder mysteries contain a sense of urgency, and while there are some things in the book that feature a limited timeline for the most part the novel focuses on Margaret’s insistence that Dr. Deaver was murdered and she’s going to prove it. Barring a threat or two, those who might want to cover it up have clearly moved on. Sometimes Townsend’s choice to let Margaret sit with her thoughts works; other times some readers might struggle a little to stay with her instead of skipping ahead.

Overall, however, the book is an enjoyable read in the genre, and the identity of the killer is truly a surprise. Those who like a murder mystery set in academia will like this one. ...more

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Red as Royal Blood
by Elizabeth Hart

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When a maid is unexpectedly named the heir to the throne by a dying king, the rest of the royal family is up in arms. Worse, the king leaves behind a note for the maid saying he was probably murdered, and she may be next. Author Elizabeth Hart debuts When a maid is unexpectedly named the heir to the throne by a dying king, the rest of the royal family is up in arms. Worse, the king leaves behind a note for the maid saying he was probably murdered, and she may be next. Author Elizabeth Hart debuts with a standalone novel that is a realistic look at court intrigue while also satisfying diehard romance fans in Red as Royal Blood.

Ruby has spent her entire life in the castle of the kingdom of Lumaria. She doesn’t remember a time outside of serving the royals. The official story is that her family died in the war, and she was dropped off in the castle kitchen to keep her safe. Since then, she’s learned to clean and fetch and make herself known only when the royals need something served to them.

Despite the trouble she would encounter, Ruby has struck up a longstanding friendship with Prince Rowan. The two sneak out to play games of chess and get into all sorts of mischief together. Ruby’s best friend, Sara, thinks Ruby and Rowan are more than friends, even though Ruby denies it. Not that she would mind; like his brothers, Rowan is so good looking it’s almost a crime. But Ruby is an independent thinker, and she doesn’t want to be tied down to anyone or anything just yet.

All of that changes when the king dies and it’s revealed that he recently changed the line of succession to name Ruby as his heir. Everyone, including Rowan, is flabbergasted, and Ruby is more shocked than anyone else. Why would the king name her of all people? They didn’t have any kind of connection to one another, and her parents died in the war. She can’t remember a time they even spoke to one another.

Things only get more complicated on the first day Ruby enters the late king’s chambers and discovers a note he left her that says if he’s dead then it was because he was murdered. He’s named Ruby as his successor, because he’s not sure if he can trust anyone else. Worse, he believes Ruby might be next to die, unless she can unravel the secrets behind his death.

Ruby doesn’t know if she has time to uncover a murder plot and run an entire kingdom and try to keep the rest of the royal family at bay. Every one of them has a reason to hate her, especially Rowan’s big brother, Asher, who would have inherited the throne if his father hadn’t changed everything. Ruby wishes Asher would understand that she didn’t want to be queen in the first place, even if it means an opportunity to live a life of luxury. She also can’t figure out why her insides turn to jelly every time Asher gets close to her, but if she doesn’t survive the assassination attempts on her life they’ll become worse than jelly.

Author Elizabeth Hart does a great job of balancing the demands of royal life with the mystery of who killed the king and could want Ruby dead along with the budding romance between her and Asher. As a protagonist, Ruby is smart and plucky but Hart doesn’t let her win every time. The in-built flaws and frustrations she experiences makes Ruby even more likeable as a main character, which will make readers more eager to find out exactly what is going on.

Hart leans into red herrings that are commonly found in murder mysteries and turns them around with a deft hand so that readers will be left guessing the murderer’s identity. At one point almost everyone is plausibly a suspect, no easy feat to pull off when there are so many characters who could justifiably want Ruby dead. Hart gives all of them reasonable motives, which adds to the tension and excitement as it builds.

The romance subplot occasionally feels shoehorned into some scenes, and the worldbuilding when it comes to the language could have been more imaginative. Seeing common-day expletives in a book set in what feels like Victorian times can feel a little jarring. Hart clearly has the writing chops to build an engaging story; doing some research on expletives from the eras or, even better, creating her own would have made the book that much better.

For the most part, however, this was an enjoyable read that will keep readers guessing to the end. Readers who enjoy books about royal life with court politics thrown in will definitely enjoy this one. ...more

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Harlem Rhapsody
by Victoria Christopher Murray (Goodreads Author)

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A young woman moves to New York for a new job and to make her writing dreams come true. What begins as a simple job turns into a major turning point in a movement that will eventually give the country some of its most important writers. Author Victor A young woman moves to New York for a new job and to make her writing dreams come true. What begins as a simple job turns into a major turning point in a movement that will eventually give the country some of its most important writers. Author Victoria Christopher Murray introduces readers to a crucial historical figure in our nation’s development of key authors in a book that feels more like a textbook at times in the novel Harlem Rhapsody.

It's 1919, and Jessie Redmon Fauset gets off the train in New York City from Philadelphia with her mother and a trunk full of dreams in tow. She’s here at the behest of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the forerunners of civil rights for Black people in the 20th century. Will, as she calls him, has created the position of literary editor for Jessie at The Crisis, the magazine he founded that has quickly become a megaphone for Negro voices in their time. She’s also in New York because she and Will are in love, despite his status as a married man and her determination never to become attached to anyone in that way.

Yet she is attached. When Jessie isn’t taking in the sights and sounds of her new home in Harlem, she’s working on The Crisis and spending all of her time, work and personal, with Will. Jessie’s mother doesn’t approve at all. She warns Jessie time and again that remaining so strongly tied to a married man can only bring heartache for Jessie eventually, and in her head Jessie knows her mother is right. Her heart, however, has its own resolve and won’t let Will go. It doesn’t help that Will seeks her out in their free time for stolen nights together.

Even with the strong draw of Will, though, soon enough Jessie starts to find her feet in Harlem and her new job all on her own. She’s eager to nurture and guide new writers as she helps them prepare for publication in The Crisis. The magazine has a strong subscription base, and Jessie is determined to further solidify the publication’s hold. Racism, while less pronounced in New York, is still rampant everywhere. The Crisis acts as a voice for so many across the country who feel like theirs has been stolen from them because of the color of their skin.

Along with acting as editor, Jessie has dreams of releasing her own novel. She spends her time trying to balance her writing time, networking with other publishers, discovering new writers, and her affair with Will in a whirlwind life. It isn’t until she finally achieves her dream that she understands she hasn’t just been guiding new writers on their way to lifelong success; she’s been ushering in a movement.

Author Victoria Christopher Murray tells the story of a little-known figure who discovered some of the most critically-acclaimed Black authors of all time: Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, and Countee Cullen, among others. The story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, like so many other women in history, has receded to the background of more prominent figures, like W.E.B. Du Bois. Yet as Murray proves, people like Jessie need to be highlighted, celebrated, and remembered. In that regard, the book deserves high praise.

However, the novel at times reads less like “historical fiction” and more like a history textbook. Murray’s eagerness to share Jessie Redmon Fauset’s accomplishments gives all of them equal importance, which makes the book proceed on a lateral line rather than building to a clear climax. Without anything other than Jessie’s affair with Du Bois and the occasional conflicts between them, the book loses cohesion at times.

As the author explains in her note in the back of the book, she intentionally devotes a great deal of time and story real estate to the affair Jessie had with W.E.B. Du Bois. The relationship drew the ire of many of their contemporaries, and the reported treatment Du Bois gave Fauset will surprise and even disappoint some readers. The man responsible for so many major civil rights actions, including the founding of the NAACP, was, in the author’s words, “misogynistic and elitist,” and she writes him in many scenes through that lens.

The writing aside, readers will appreciate learning more about this woman who stood her ground and chose to chart her own path in a time when women were actively encouraged to focus on hearth and home. Those who enjoy learning about less well-known figures in history will want to check this out. ...more

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Let's Call Her Barbie
by Renée Rosen (Goodreads Author)

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A woman challenges all the norms of society and business when she proposes a new type of toy for her company to create. As she and the others on her core team fight skepticism and obstacles along the way, their journey will lead them to change pop cu A woman challenges all the norms of society and business when she proposes a new type of toy for her company to create. As she and the others on her core team fight skepticism and obstacles along the way, their journey will lead them to change pop culture and history. Author Renee Rosen dives deep into the boardrooms and the homes of all the key players behind the world’s most famous doll in the excellent novel, Let’s Call Her Barbie.

It's the 1950s, and Ruth Handler is on vacation with her family in Europe when she and her daughter spot a doll unlike any they’ve ever seen before. Even though Ruth’s daughter, Barbara, is a little too old to play with dolls now, she still loves collecting them especially unusual ones. The German doll Bild Lilli is exceptionally unusual.

For starters, she’s a grown woman and not a baby doll. Her curves and her painted expression suggest that she might be a better toy for young men rather than little girls. But Ruth sees beyond Bild Lilli. She sees an opportunity to fill a gaping niche that the market doesn’t even know exists yet.

As one of the founders of the toymaker, Mattel, Ruth and her husband, Elliot, have experienced a variety of successes. Ruth, though, wants to do something truly groundbreaking. She’s wanted to change the perception and the look of dolls for a while now, and Bild Lilli gives her just the push she needs to shove her ideas front and center in the boardroom.

At first everyone resists as hard as they can, particularly key engineer Jack Ryan. In addition to balking at a doll with breasts, Jack has a hundred reasonable questions for how to design a grown woman doll. He’s been integral to the creation and design of so many other Mattel success stories, and he knows how to challenge Ruth like no one else—not even Elliot—can.

Ruth is undeterred. Ever since coming back from Europe, the ideas keep coming. She wants to encourage young girls to think beyond marriage and motherhood. Why can’t little girls also be astronauts and teachers? Why can’t a doll be a role model for all their potential future selves?

Look at her. She’s running a successful toy company while parenting her two children. It’s true that Elliot usually steps in more with Barbara and Ken, their son, but Ruth’s love for her children is resolute. If she can be a working woman with it all, so can a doll and so can thousands of other little girls across the country. Maybe even the world.

Despite those initial naysayers, Ruth presses on. Eventually she brings Jack, Elliot, and many of her core team around to the idea. By hiring key designers to make sure the doll—who they decide to call Barbie—has a wardrobe unlike any other, Ruth knows that Mattel is entering a new era.

Through countless frustrations, financial and personal setbacks, and many arguments about how Barbie should be launched, how she should look, and whether she needs a man in her life, the team at Mattel will rally time and time again to change the way society looks at dolls, and perhaps even women, forever.

Author Renee Rosen is a seasoned writer in the historical women’s fiction space and is clearly at ease with her main characters in this book. Rosen chooses to focus on Ruth, Jack, and the designers, Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, who come on board to style Barbie’s first looks. While the omniscient narration may throw some readers early on, Rosen’s confident writing style will quickly bring them around.

Rosen doesn’t waste time getting into the crux of the initial problems with Barbie: her acceptance by the team at Mattel and then by customers at large. While the Barbie movie allowed audiences to interact with Barbie herself in a unique way, Rosen takes readers back to the literal drawing board where the doll was born. She shares tidbits of Barbie history in a novel that is compelling, engaging, and fast-paced. Readers will find themselves getting involved in the lives of Ruth, Jack, Stevie, and everyone else and thinking about them when they’re not reading.

Although the book feels like it’s skating across the surface in some scenes and does indulge in minor information dumps, for the most part the novel is an absolute delight. Those who love pop culture history will definitely want to read this one. ...more

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Death at the Door (Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries #2)
by Olivia Blacke (Goodreads Author)

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A young woman and her ghost roommate find themselves in a position to solve a murder for a second time, this time at the woman’s place of work—which also happened to be the workplace of the ghost when she was alive. Despite their otherworldly communi A young woman and her ghost roommate find themselves in a position to solve a murder for a second time, this time at the woman’s place of work—which also happened to be the workplace of the ghost when she was alive. Despite their otherworldly communication problems, the roommates’ bond deepens as new information about the ghost’s own mysterious death comes to light. Olivia Blacke continues her Ruby and Cordelia mystery series with a worthy follow-up to the first book in her latest novel Death at the Door.

Twentysomething Ruby Young feels like she’s finally getting the hang of living in Boston. The big city is a major change from her small hometown 400 miles away, but it’s a relief to have escaped the guy who broke her heart. Also, she’s not alone; her roommate, Cordelia Graves, has helped Ruby settle in. Never mind that Cordelia is a ghost and no one else knows they’re living together. Ruby adores Cordelia, even if she’s a little overprotective.

For Cordelia, now that she and Ruby have worked out a rudimentary but somewhat reliable system for communicating, life—or death, in her case—is more bearable. Even though Cordelia still has many questions about her own demise, she’s comforted by the fact that she can keep an eye on Ruby. The girl is so cheerful and upbeat that it borders on naïve sometimes. Cordelia wants to make sure nothing happens to her.

The plans for keeping life in lowkey mode are shattered when Ruby discovers a dead body at work. Someone has murdered the regular food delivery guy who would bring everyone in the office their lunches and meeting snacks. It seems like such a weird choice for a murder victim, Ruby thinks. Even though, at first, Cordelia tries to dissuade Ruby from looking into it, eventually Cordelia is intrigued by the situation herself.

Things get complicated when Cordelia’s brother shows up after a long absence and a cute guy moves in across the hall from Ruby. Both men drop in and out of Ruby’s life on their own terms, and while Ruby is frustrated by the first and charmed by the second she also wishes people would knock before coming over. Or ask her permission before breaking in. Even if Cordelia’s brother means well.

Meanwhile, Cordelia keeps trying to make sense of her own mysterious death, ruled a suicide by the police. Cordelia isn’t convinced. She was certainly struggling toward the end of her life, but too many questions linger for her to believe the official narrative. She wavers on whether she wants to find out the truth, but if anyone can help her it’s Ruby—as long as Ruby doesn’t get killed herself looking into the delivery guy’s murder.
Author Olivia Blacke keeps both Ruby and Cordelia’s voices strong through this second book and gives readers an opportunity to see active growth in the relationship between the two protagonists. At the same time, Blacke balances the murder mystery of the delivery man. Ruby, an office manager at a tech company, makes ample use of the flexibility in her schedule in a way that feels real. Blacke has offered readers a plausible scenario in which Ruby could be running her own amateur investigation while also getting work done.

The book falters in places where Blacke tries to emphasize Ruby’s cluelessness about simple 21st-century cultural terms and norms. The explanation given—that electronics blow up any time Cordelia is near them—offers ample scope for old-fashioned murder investigating, but at times Ruby comes across as a doe-eyed small-town girl who has no idea what to do with herself. The schtick works sometimes, and sometimes it’s a little too apparent that Blacke needs one of her main characters to not have a clue so other plot pieces can move into place.

Nevertheless, Blacke’s depiction of Cordelia’s ghostly existence is refreshing and fun. Readers will absolutely want to stick around for the third book, especially given the main plot twist that was dropped on the last page of this one, to find out just what happened to Cordelia and why she had to die the way she did. Readers who love cozies that still challenge them will want to read the first book and then come to this one right away. ...more

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Busted
by Dan Gemeinhart (Goodreads Author)

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When a boy and his grandfather are in danger of being evicted, he makes a deal with a shady character in the hopes that it will help him save the only home he’s ever known. Instead what happens is a rollicking day that leaves him wondering whether ge When a boy and his grandfather are in danger of being evicted, he makes a deal with a shady character in the hopes that it will help him save the only home he’s ever known. Instead what happens is a rollicking day that leaves him wondering whether getting evicted might have actually been the easier choice. Author Dan Gemeinhart puts his characters in reasonably challenging situations without ever letting them swim in bottomless waters in the funny, heartfelt Busted.

Oscar Aberdeen is a hit with all the residents of Sunny Days retirement home in his New Jersey hometown, and why wouldn’t he be? He’s always happy to act as handyman when someone needs it, he’s the vice president and main social event planner of several clubs, and he’s a mean hand at bridge. He’s also only 12 years old, but for Oscar that’s neither here nor there. Despite the fact that he’s attend more than four dozen funerals in his life, he’s perfectly happy at Sunny Days.

That is until the current owner dies and his son swoops in and starts making big changes, starting with their rent. Thanks to the new owner of Sunny Days, Oscar and his grandpa are being priced right out of their small apartment in the facility. If they don’t figure out how to get some more money soon and on a regular basis, they’ll be left without a home.

Then Oscar has a conversation with the new resident, Jimmy Deluca, that may give him a chance. Never mind that everyone else in Sunny Days thinks Jimmy is a former mobster and that he can’t be trusted. Oscar loves his grandpa and will do absolutely anything for him, including doing a favor for Jimmy.

Because that’s the deal Jimmy offers: he wants a favor. If he can do it, Oscar will get enough money to help him and his grandfather stay in Sunny Days permanently. Easy peasy, right? Except the favor is that Jimmy wants to leave Sunny Days for the day. For most residents this wouldn’t be a problem, but Jimmy is on a special list that restricts him from leaving the retirement home.

He makes it clear to Oscar, though: getting out of Sunny Days is nonnegotiable for Oscar to get the money. With every instinct screaming that this is a bad idea, Oscar agrees. Because he also has a nonnegotiable: he has to take care of his grandpa.

Against all the common sense that all his adoptive Sunny Days grandparents and his own grandfather have instilled in him, Oscar agrees to the escape. At the last minute someone else from Sunny Days stows away, and the three end up on an adventure that just might leave Oscar with a permanent stomachache. It might also give him a new perspective on life and even a new friend.

Author Dan Gemeinhart writes in a breezy tone that offers a baseline of “all will be well” and balances that with enough intrigue and adventure that readers will spend time worrying about Oscar’s capers in the best way possible. Gemeinhart is clearly comfortable with his target audience and offers the best representation of current middle grade readers in supporting character Natasha. Her quick wit and ease around Oscar and Jimmy will make readers laugh out loud. Natasha easily gets the best lines in the book, and it’s apparent how much fun Gemeinhart had in writing her.

As a main character, Oscar is likeable and sweet. His patience with all the senior citizens in Sunny Days who see him as a surrogate grandson is more than just service to the plot; Oscar’s love and respect for these elderly friends feel real and authentic. Gemeinhart chooses to have Oscar talk like the boomer generation he lives with, which at times can be endearing and at other times feels forced into the conversation. The author may have wanted to pull back on a few of the “humdinger” uses along with some of the other slang terms from generations past.

Road trip stories are less common for the middle grade set, which makes this book even more fun. The ending feels inevitable, but Gemeinhart manages to hold back a small surprise or two. Those who want a light, breezy book with heart should definitely check this out. ...more

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The House Saphir
by Marissa Meyer (Goodreads Author)

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The Killer Question
by Janice Hallett

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A man intent on sharing the story of his aunt and uncle’s mysterious disappearance reaches out to Netflix to gauge their interest for a possible documentary. As he shares important documents with the Netflix rep about the case, it becomes clear that A man intent on sharing the story of his aunt and uncle’s mysterious disappearance reaches out to Netflix to gauge their interest for a possible documentary. As he shares important documents with the Netflix rep about the case, it becomes clear that the key to the couple’s vanishing might very well be in the least likely of places: a trivia game. Author Janice Hallett uses the epistolary form to great effect in the wildly clever novel The Killer Question.

In the small British town of Hereford sits an empty pub called The Case is Altered. Dominic is the nephew of the former owners, Sue and Mal Eastwood, and he’s reaching out to every production house who will listen to his story about the Eastwoods’ strange disappearance. Finally, when Netflix answers his call, Dominic launches into his tale, and it’s just as odd as the way his aunt and uncle went missing.

For two years, Sue and Mal owned The Case is Altered where they served regulars and hosted a weekly trivia match. Part of a pub collective, Sue and Mal are quite happy with their quiet life of making drinks and posing tough questions to the teams, who quickly become regulars, that show up every Monday. Mal enjoys trying to stump them with the questions he creates. Unlike some of the other establishments in Hereford that use trivia question banks, The Case is Altered offers a brand new trivia match every week.

While the stakes might be low in the grand scheme of the world, for the teams that show up to every game the outcome is important. When a new team shows up to compete, then, the regular teams are a little wary. When the new team wins the first couple of matches, the regulars are annoyed.

Then the new team starts winning every week, and the regulars are livid.

Mal can’t quite figure out how the new team, which calls itself The Shadow Knights, is doing it. He and Sue suspect the Knights of cheating, but the team makes the rounds of trivia nights at other pubs in town and it seems like they’re winning fair and square. Mal is intrigued by the Knights and wants to make the questions even harder, but Sue worries the customers who have supported them since they opened the pub will take their business elsewhere on a permanent basis. It’s hard enough staying in the black as it is.

To make matters worse, a dead body is found in the nearby river. Suddenly everyone’s suspicion goes on high alert, especially towards the Shadow Knights. By accident, one of the teams also finds out that Sue and Mal are retired cops and that they had to escape a dangerous situation by starting over in Hereford. A body on one side, a shady trivia team on the other, and a mysterious past for the pub owners everyone had assumed were regular retirees looking for extra income—the trivia teams don’t know who to believe or where to look anymore.

Five years later, the pub is empty and run down. Sue and Mal are gone, and Dominic believes their story is worth telling. The Netflix rep is intrigued with what Dominic provides, and with each new document the story of the Eastwoods gets more fantastical and shocking. The final question remains, however: what happened to Sue and Mal?

Author Janice Hallett, a seasoned journalist, tells her tale exclusively through WhatsApp messages, court and police documents, and emails. The epistolary form can be tricky for many writers, because much of what gets shared is frequently info dumps in disguise. Yet Hallett is clearly a master of the form. She writes with such authenticity that if readers are able to tear themselves away from the book, they’ll spend their non-reading time worrying about Sue and Mal and wondering what on earth is going on with everyone else.

Hallett’s strength lies in the three-dimensional characters she creates, whether that’s in the over-worrier Andrew, the nearly monosyllabic but sharply funny Fiona, but most especially in Sue and Mal themselves. By offering readers a world that clearly fills lived in, Hallett is able to draw them in one step at a time before whirling them around with one plot twist after another that will leave readers dizzy—except this is the kind of dizziness felt on a thrilling amusement park ride whose trajectory is completely unknown and unexpected but all kinds of fun.

Those who enjoy a mystery that will truly surprise not once but multiple times will definitely want to read this one. ...more

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	The Truth About Elves 3.99 avg rating — 93 ratings — published 2021 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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	Two for the Heart (Stories in Pairs, Set 1) 4.09 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Two for the Road (Stories in Pairs, Set 3) 4.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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	More from the Road (Stories in Pairs, Set 4) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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